Railway-switch



(No Model.)

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RAI LWAY- SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,424, dated April 27, 1897.

Application filed. August 1, 1 8 9 6.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. LOMAX, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to an improvement in railwayswitches, the object of the invention being to provide an apparatus of this character which is adaptable for operation in removing cars without the necessity of stopping the same. The operative portions of the device comprise few and simple parts which are located beneath the surface of the ground and also a carrying mechanism adapted to be operated only by the flanged wheel of the car, whereby other vehicles cannot accidentally operate the switches.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the anneXed claims. I

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan View of a railway-switch embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the operative portions of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on a line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4. is a longitudinal elevation of a section of the rail, illustrating the locking mechanism employed for operating the switch.

In the practice of my invention I locate, primarily, at a-suitable point in advance of the switch, a treadle A, which said treadle is pivoted by means of a pin or within a slot a of the rail B. This said treadle is maintained normally in a horizontal position by means of a spring 0, and the upper surface thereof extends upon a parallel line above the surface of the rail B, and its two ends are rounded to admit of a car-wheel passing thereover.

The outer end of the treadle A is provided with a downwardly-projecting arm a which said arm bears upon the inner branch d of a two-armed lever D. The outer branch or arm d of this said lever carries a foot-piece (1 upon which foot-piece normally rests a Serial No. 601,337. (No model.)

hinged lever E, which said lever is hinged or pivoted to a swinging lever E, the said lever E being pivotally mounted to a suitable bearing F. To the outer end of the lever E is attached a rod G, and this said rod is connected to the inner end of a two-armed lever H,which said lever is pivoted to a suitable bearing H, and to the outer arm h thereof is connected a rod I, which said rod is attached to the end portion of a switch-tongue J.

As a means for locking the treadle A, I provide a swinging bolt K, which said bolt engages with a slot 1) of the rail B and is secured thereto by means of a pin it. The outer end of this said bolt engages with a slot or groove a in the arm a of the shoe A, and the said bolt is maintained in a normally-locked position by means of a spring W.

In the operation of the device,when it is desired to throw the switch into the position illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the flange of any suitable car-wheel will force the bolt K in the direction of the arrow 1, whereby the shoe A will be released. The tread of the wheel will then ride upon the said shoe and depress the same, whereby the arm 01 of the lever D will be carried downwardly and the arm d thereof carried upwardly, which said motion will force the hinged lever E into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 30f the drawings,whereby its upwardly-extended end portion 6 will be thrown into the position for being operated, and this operation is accomplished by any suitable projection located upon the car to the rear of the front wheels thereof, and this said projection passing upon a parallel line with the rail will force the hinged lever E and its attached lever E to a position approximating that shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, whereby the switch is thrown.

A duplicate mechanism of the character above described may be located upon the other side of .the track for resetting the switch, or mylever attachments may be so arranged as to throw the switch in an opposite direction to that indicated in the drawings.

I do not confine myself tothe specific details of construction as herein shown and described, as it is obvious that under the scope of my invention I am entitled to the use of slight variations in mere mechanical structure.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A railway-mvitch comprisinga normallylocked shoe, a bolt for locking the same and a two'armed lever engaging with the said shoe, said lever contacting with a swinging hinged lever and a rod and lever attachment between the said hinged lever and the tongue of the switch, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a railway-switch, the combination of a normally-locked shoe adapted to be operated by the tread of a car-wheel and the swinging bolt for locking the same, said bolt adapted to be operated by the flange of a car-wheel; with the two'armed lever, the hinged swingin g lever and a rod and lever mechanism attached to the switch-tongue, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a railway-switch, the combination with the rod and lever mechanism attached to the switch-tongue and the swinging hinged lever connected to the two-armed lever pivoted to the rail and the bolt and shoe mechanism; with means connected to a car for swinging the said hinged lever and throwing the switch, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two Witnesses, this 30th day of July, 1896.

JOHN ll. LOMAX. w fitl'iesscsz O. SEDGWIOK, O. C. WINGE. 

